Clasp.



Patented Aug. I2, 1902.

C. A. BRYANT.

CLASP.

(Application filed Mar. 17, 1902.)

(No Model.)

llll avwcmto z W Wane/may UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SOLIDATED SAFETY PIN COMPANY, OF BLOOMFIELD.

CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

NEW JERSEY, A

CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 706,522, dated August 12, 1902. Application filed March 17,1902. Serial No. 98,535. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES A. BRYAN r, a citizen of the United States, whose residence and post-oflice address is \Vakefield, in the 5 county of Middlesex, State of ll fassachusetts,

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Clasps, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to clasps such as are commonly employed on garments either with or without additional fastening devices, such as buttons and the like; and the object of the invention is tosimplify and improvethe I5 construction of such clasps, as well as to increase their facility in use and their effectiveness in operation.

The invention will be more fully described hereinafter-with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which it is illustrated, and

in which- Figures 1 and 2 are respectively a side view and a front view of a clasp without the" spring and parallel grip hereinafter referred as to, the clamping-lever being shown in Fig. l by full lines in its partly-open position and by dotted lines in its closed position. 3 and 4 are similar views, but showing the spring cooperating with the clampingdever 0 and teeth on the frame. Figs. 5 and 6 are longitudinal sectional views of the clasp shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the clamping-lever being shown in its closed and open positions in the two figures, respectively. Fig. '7 is a 5 side view of a clasp similar to that shown in Fig. 3, but with the parallel gripapplied to the clamping-lever. Fig. Sis a perspective view, on a somewhat-larger scale, of the clasp shown in Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is a side view of a 0 clasp similar to that shown in Fig. 7, but with the parallel series of teeth and without the spring. Figs. 10 and 11 are respectively a longitudinal central section and a transverse section of the clasp shown in Fig. 9.

In the form represented in Figs. 1 and 2 the clasp comprises a U-shaped frame a, which is stiff enough to hold thematerial firmly and yet sufficientlyresilient to cooperate properly with the clamping-lever. One member of the frame, as b, may be plain.

Figs.

The other member, as c, is slotted, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, and is provided or formed with ears (1. The clampinglever comprises a handle 6 and a clampingjaw f, disposed substantially at right angles to the handle, integral pivots being formed,

as at g, to engage the ears d. The clasp thus formed is practically operative, the opposing M member I) of the frame yielding sufficiently to cooperate with the clamping-jaw both to accommodate the fabric and to hold the jaw when it is in its closed position.

For convenience in use it is desirable that the simple clasp shown in Figs. 1 and 2 be provided with a spring 71 to cooperate with the clamping-lever, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, for the purpose of holding it either in its closed position or in its open position. The spring may be secured to the frame in any convenient manner. Its freeendisarranged to bear against the clamping-jaw above the pivot, as shown in Fig. 6, when the clamping-lever is in its open position and below the pivot, as shown in Fig. 5,when the clamping-lever is in its closed position, thereby holding the lever in either of such positions. To prevent the free end of the spring from rising too far when the lever is in its open position, as shown in Fig. 6, a stop e is formed on or applied to the under side of the handle e in position to engage the free end of the spring, and when the clamping-lever is moved to its closed position to bear against the spring and thrust it downward, so that the end thereof shall press against the clamping-jaw below the pivot. Teeth t' may also be advantageously applied to or formed on the member b of the frame to cooperate with the clamping-jaw, as shown in Figs. Land 5. For the purpose of affording a broader sur- 9o face of contact with the fabric than is afforded by the edge of the clamping-jaw a parallel grip or presser-foot It may be pivoted to the lower edge of the clamping-jaw on an axis parallel with the axis of the clamping-jaw, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, such presser-foot adapting itself to the fabric as it lies on the opposing member I) of the frame. As indicated in Fig. 8, the lower edge of the clamping-jaw f may be formed with integral piv- 10o ots f, which engage sockets formed therefor by the overturned edges 70' of the parallel grip or presser-foot 70. When a very firm and positive grasp of the fabric is desired, it is preferable to provide the opposing member I) of the frame with parallel series 'of teeth Z, between which .the presser-foot or parallel grip 76 may enter, forcing the fabric down into engagement with the preferably-pointed teeth Z and retaining it in such engagement, so that there is no possibility of slipping.

The clamping-jaw f may be provided, as

shown in Figs. 8 and 11, with integral pivots f to engage the, overturned edges 70' of the presser-foot or parallel grip, and the teeth Z may be conveniently formed by turning inward upon themselves the edges b of the blank from which the frame is formed, the edges being then turned upward to form the upwardly-projecting teeth Z. The edges of the member of the frame may also be turned inward, as at c, to support the pivots got" the clamping-lever.

As will now be obvious, the improved clasp is not only exceedingly simple in construction,and therefore comparativelyinexpensive to manufacture, but it is direct and positive in its action and grasps and holds the fabric I claim as my invention 1. A clasp comprising a U-shaped frame, a clamping-lever pivoted on one member of the frame and having a clamping-jaw to cooperate with the other member and directly engage the fabric and a handle, and a spring secured to said frame and cooperating with said clamping-lever to hold it in either its open or closed position, substantially as described.

2. A clasp comprising a U-shaped frame having one member provided with teeth, a clamping-lever pivoted on one member of the frame and having a clamping-jaw to cooperate with the toothed member and directly engage the fabric, and a handle, and a spring secured to said frame and cooperating with said clamping-lever to hold it in either its open or closed position, substantially as described.

3. A claspcomprising a U-shaped frame, a clamping-lever pivoted on one member of the frame and having a clamping-jaw to cooperate with the other member, and a handle, and a presser-foot pivoted on said clamping-jaw on an axis parallel with the axis of the clamping-jaw, substantially as described.

4.. A clasp comprising a U -shaped frame, a clamping-lever pivoted on one member of the frame and having a clamping-jaw to cooperate with the other member, and a handle, a presser-foot pivoted on said clamping-jaw on an axis parallel with the axis of the clamping-jaw, and a spring secured to said frame and cooperating with said clam ping-lever to hold it in either its open or its closed position, substantially as described.

5. A clasp comprising a U-shaped frame having on one member two longitudinal, parallel series of teeth, a clamping-lever pivoted on the other member of the frame and having a clamping-jaw and a handle, and a presserfoot pivoted on said clamping-jaw on an axis parallel with the axis of the clamping-jaw and adapted 'to enter between said series of teeth.

6. A clasp comprising a U-shaped frame having on one member two longitudinal, parallel series of teeth, a clamping-lever pivoted on the other member of the frame and having a clamping-jaw and a handle, a presser-footpivoted on said clamping-jaw on an axis parallel with the axis of the clamping-jaw and adapted to enter between said series of teeth,

and a spring secured to said frame and cooperating with said clamping-lever to hold it either in its open or its closed position, substantially as described.

This specification signed and witnessed this 13th day of March, A. D. 1902.

CHARLES A. BRYANT.

In presence of CHARLES F. HARTSHORNE, FREDERIO S. HARTSHORNE. 

